National-led Government Minister Nick Smith resigned on Wednesday after a week of revelations that he used his ministerial office correspondence to support a friend’s compensation claims.

Smith was the National Government’s intellectual powerhouse and ideological reformer. He resigned Wednesday after it was revealed he had used his ministerial office and letterhead to write letters
supporting a woman friend’s claims for accident compensation. The
resignation is a blow to the Nationals at a time when Smith was set to reform local Government in New Zealand.

Also, the jury in the Auckland High Court was unable to reach a
verdict in the Urewera Four case, who were accused of having formed a criminal group to cause mayhem and civil war in New Zealand. The
Police investigation, trial is believed to be New Zealand’s most expensive ranging between $2.8 to $4 million.